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Resolution welcomes recommendations for mediation to include children

Voice of the Child Advisory Group publishes final report

Resolution has welcomed the recommendation that children be included in family mediation sessions in the recently published final report of the Voice of the Child Advisory Group. The organisation, which has long campaigned to make divorce and separation more child-focused, recently published a Parenting Charter calling for separating parents to prioritise their children's rights to information and influence over decisions that affect their lives.

Resolution spokesperson Karin Walker said:

"We're encouraged by the Government's firm support for the principle of child inclusive practice and the presumption that children and young people should have the opportunity to have their voices heard during their parents' separation, including mediation. Whilst children should not be actively involved in the issues surrounding the separation of their parents, it is important that they have the opportunity to express their feelings about the impact of decisions on their lives.

"Resolution has actively supported children's right to have their voices heard, with Resolution-trained mediators often being specially trained to see children in direct consultation. In this context, the issue of parental consent and confidentiality is vitally important. This has been carefully considered by the Advisory Group and reflected in the government report."

The Advisory Group, convened by Minister for Justice, Simon Hughes, considered how children and young people could be involved in a number of dispute resolution processes but focused primarily on family mediation in order to develop an effective, coherent blueprint for the future which could be adapted for use by other dispute resolution practitioners.

The report endorses the principle of child inclusive practice and recommends the adoption of a non-legal presumption that all children and young people aged 10 and above should be offered the opportunity to have their voices heard directly during dispute resolution processes, including mediation, if they wish.

The 34 recommendations fall into five main groups, relating to:

defining and delivering child inclusive practices

private ordering and ethical issues

monitoring of and accountability for child inclusive practice

the provision of appropriate information and support for children and young people

changes in the dispute resolution culture.

Resolution has urged Government to consider the report's request for funding for child inclusive mediation as an ongoing process during a divorce, rather than a one-off event for the child or young person. The organisation considers inclusion of children's rights and wishes throughout the separation process to play a crucial role in helping separating families move on with their lives.

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